Legend of Zelda

Credits to Yami for this idea...

I posted the exact same thing at ********* Forums OG Board. They both have the same skeleton story, but we will see how differently they end up being, eh?

Okay, this OG is going to be a little different. Like the Ennead (at another forum), this will have an 'outline' of sorts. However, the outline will not be provided in any form here... the outline can be found within the original NES classic... Legend of Zelda.

The purpose of this OG is to retell the tale of LoZ the way you think it would be done if it were to receive a drastic overhaul. The outline is the basic skeleton story. Ganon kidnaps Zelda, Link gather ToW to save her. The same nine dungeons, of course, will be there with the same nine bosses. However, everything else is up to change. The dungeons can be themed (forest dungeon, lava dungeon, etc...) and the map itself can be enlarged and modified to suit the story as long as it's with good judgement.

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Long, long ago there existed a country of Hyrule that existed in peace. The King ruled over the land wisely with the Triforce of Wisdom and Power kept safely within the walls of the mighty castle. He ruled justly and his kingdom covered a great region. He had a daughter named Princess Zelda, who was blessed with wisdom beyond her age...

---

"Defend the gate!" The captain shouted to the guards. The archers turned their arrows towards the battering ram and the invaders using it. Several of them were killed, but before the archers could nock another arrow to their bows, a magical blast sent them flying. Two robed figures appeared on the walls, their faces eerily hidden with only two red lights peering out where their eyes should be.

The two fought off a few guards as ladders were raised on the walls. Soon several rat-like creatures ascended the walls and joined the wizards. They had little armor, but in their hands they held boomerangs for weapons. They launched theirselves at the soldiers, many of them getting killed in the process.

Overhead a swarm of bats formed in the sky, for a moment blocking the moon. They then descended on the soldiers, many of them biting furiously at them. A few of the bats broke off and in a brief flash of light, turned into strange multi-eyed creatures with wings, hands, and feet. With remarkable strength, they jumped off the walls and down into the castle's courtyard.

The gate was finally destroyed and the castle was soon overrun by strange dog-faced men. They parted ways as a dark figure trudged through the destruction. He was large, there was no denying that, standing three heads over any of his troops. Each one of his arms seemed to be the size of a human and could easily break someone in half.

Clop, Clop, Clank

His legs were equally massive and his hoofed feet 'clopped' as he walked along the stone path. His armor rustled as he moved and his large trident clanged as he walked with it as if it were a walking stick. As he stepped out from under the wall, the moonlight finally revealed him fully. His face was like that of a pigs, only far more fearsome. His dark blue skin made him seem almost invisible in the dark. He glanced sidelong at his troops on both sides of him.

"Kill everyone in your way. Plunder anything you wish, but the Triforce is mine," the large figure said in a deep, thunderous voice.

The invaders quickly did a crude salute and returned to the attack.The castle doors were destroyed and the last of the guards were killed. Meanwhile, in the lowest chambers of the castle...

"Impa, take my horse," Zelda said. "You must find someone... someone to stop Ganon. I know you will find someone, I saw it... in a vision."

Impa nodded. "You know I hate to leave you alone."

"I know... but I have to hide the Triforce of Wisdom. If Ganon obtains it..."

"Where will you take it?"

"The underworld, not even Ganon's minions will defeat the guardians there."

"Not yet anyways," Impa said and paused as she heard rumbling above. "Hurry! You must go now through the catacombs. I'll escape through the back door. May the Triforce protect you."

------

"At last," Ganon squealed as he held the Triforce of Power. "After so long, once again..."

A bright flash filled the room and the Triforce of Power vanished and a small triangle symbol appeared on his right hand. "-I feel the power again!"

The king struggled against the dog-faced creatures holding him. "You won't get away with this!"

Ganon snorted. "On the contrary, I think I will."

A wizard suddenly appeared in front of him, "Master! The Triforce of Wisdom is..."

"... missing," the king finished with a smirk.

"Where!?"

The king said nothing. In frustration, Ganon backhanded the old man, knocking him out. He turned to the wizard. "Send the moblins out. Send the vires out, everyone. I want to know where the Triforce is!"

"We already know," the wizard replied. "The captain had a much looser tongue than the king. The princess escaped with it to the south."

"South... where?" Ganon grunted.

"... Death Mountain Area, master."

Ganon growled and stormed out of the room, "Find her!"

One of the moblins grunted, "What do with king?"

"Throw him in the dungeon. Let him rot."

---------------

Anyone up for grabs to finish the pre-LoZ manual backstory stuff?

[ April 15, 2004, 10:10 PM: Message edited by: Masamune ]

[Yami Yoshi]

OOC: Kudos to Steve T. for this post.

Zelda paused briefly to take her shoes off as she ran through the castle sewers. As much as she hated to stop, she knew she'd run much, much faster flatfooted than wearing heels. She had been trained in this run before, every Zelda, Princes of Hyrule made this run regularly in the event of Ganon's return. Up until now, Zelda found it stupid and unnecessary to practice running through the Underworld in the event a mythical demon should return.

Perhaps there was some sense in Hylian tradition after all. She ripped a torch off the wall as she passed.

There were no footsteps behind her, but even through the twenty feet of solid rock above her head, she could hear the screams and battle cries from the surface. Either moblins had stronger voices, or her soldiers were losing badly. Zelda quickened her pace.

Even though cutting through the sewers would give her a head start, Zelda had two days of running ahead of her. She would have to very effeciently slip through sewer and cave, using the Triforce's power to summon the Eight Guardians in each of the eight labyrinths, designed for the soley for this event.

Eventually, she made her way to the first of the Labyrinths. As she reached the entrance, panting, she pulled the Triforce of Wisdom for a pocket in her dress. "You have no idea how much I regret doing this," she whispered, then bashed the Golden Triangle against her knee. It obediently shattered into eight sharders, which Zelda teleknetically lifted from the ground. She snatched the nearest from the air and clutching it in her fist, recited "Aquamentus, I summon you" in the language of Ancient Hyrule.

The dragon appeared before her and held out its clawed hand. Zelda placed the Trifoce share in the green scaly palm, saying "Guard it well." Aquamentus nodded, and lumbered off through the dark maze.

"Only seven more to go," Zelda muttered. "Seven more..." She dashed off again into the tunnels.

--------------------------

"These Moblins are fast," Impa thought to herself as she spurred on her horse. After a full two days of running, the moblins were finally catching up. She was almost out of the Death Mountain Area. Another hour and her horse would be dead, and she'd be left to run on foot. She was too old for this.

The moblins snareld and barked as they chased.

Suddenly, Impa found herself being thrown off her horse. As she tumbled, screaming, to the ground, she saw that a Moblin had successfully landed a spear in the beast's flank. Another landed just shy of her nose. "I've failed you, Zelda," she lamented as the Moblins drew closer.

-------------------------

"These are troubled times, young traveler," the old man said to Link. "You picked the worst possible time to visit Hyrule. Just two days ago, Ganon returned and destroyed Hyrule Castle."

"Ganon?" Link scoffed, "In my homeland, we regard him as a myth."

"He's no myth. Myths don't kill Hyrule's bravest soldiers."

"You should get to the caves, Old Man," Link warned. "It won't be safe here much longer."

Link heard a woman's scream at the bottom of the hill.

"Moblins!" the old man cried, quivering.

He immediately turned in that direction. He would not let two innocents die this day. "Get to the caves, I'll hold them off." He turned to barrel down the hill, but as he started to run, he felt the old man's hand on his shoulder restraing him.

"It's dangerous to go alone! Take this," the old man commanded. He drew from his cloak a wooden sword. It wasn't much, and certainly would do little but provide some slight defense, but Link accepted it anyway. A wooden sword was better than bare fists.

"Thank you," Link replied. "I hope your kingdom finds brighter days." He leapt off and charged down the hill.

-----------------

Impa saw a moblin's spear above her face, poised for the killing strike. She screamed again. The moblin snarled. "Where is the girl, woman?"

Impa remained silent.

"WHERE--IS--THE--GIRL?"

Impa remained silent.

"This is useless," one of the other moblins complained.

"He's right," said the one by Impa. "This old woman knows nothing." He tightened his grip on the shaft of the spear.

The stroke never fell, though. A wooden sword flew from the south and struck the moblin's forehead, knocking him to the ground. A green figure leapt over Impa's body, deftly grabbing the spear lying beside her. Wielding it masterfully, he swing it's bladed tip across the chest of the nearest moblin, and ran through another before they could counter-attack. A third mad a wild slash at the elven warrior, but he blocked it easily and shoved his spear deep into the moblin's blue neck. Another thrust at the boy, but he dodged to the side and fell back, hurling the spear into the moblin's chest. He then returned to the moblin chieftan, who had just regained his footing. Rolling beneath the moblin's wild overhead swing, the elf snatch up the wooden sword once more and bashed it against the moblin's left knee, bringing him to the ground. Another stroke left the monster dead.

"Are you all right, woman?" the young man asked.

"Who...who are you?" she replied.

"I am Link. This must be a terrible place if moblins attack an old woman and only a foreigner will come to her aid."

"It is...the Hero," Impa whispered in awe.

Link stared at her blankly.

"There is little time, so I must be brief," the woman said. "You know of Ganon's invasion?"

Link nodded.

"Good. Hyrule has no man strong enough to stand against the demon. Zelda has hidden the shards of the Triforce of Wisdom in the Labyrinths. If she hasn't been captured by now, she will. Soon. You need to gather the shards and travel to Death Mountain, then destroy Ganon and save Zelda. If you do this, Hyrule will be forever in your debt."

"Zelda...Triforce...Death Mountain? Woman, I've never been in this country before. How am I supposed to find any labyrinths? Is there no one else?"

"Eagle, moon, manji, snake
Lizard, dragon, demon, lion.
You must seek them out and restore the Triforce."

"What are you babbling about, woman?" Link replied.

"There is no time for this! North of here and on an island is the entrance to the eagle. GO!" She took him by the front of his shirt and shook him. "Or would you rather wait until the moblins return and slay us all? Ganon won't stop with Hyrule. A foreigner is the only hope left."

Link ran these words over in his head again, then straightened himself up. "I have seen what Ganon has just begun to do to your kingdom. I will do this as you ask. I will stand against the demon. You'd do well to hide until it's over." He drew his sword and shield and started north.

---------------

"Master Ganon, I have brought a gift for you," Wizard Bendu exclaimed as he entered the palace's throne room. Ganon, the pig-like beast was sprawled lazily on the throne, wearing the King's crown on his brow. He clutched the Triforce of Power in his right hand. He held his trident in the left, leaning it over his shoulder.

"Bring it to me, then," he said.

Bendu clapped, and double doors opened again. Two moblins walked in, dragging a struggling girl with them. She had red hair and wore a white dress. Her feet wildly struggled to push herself back and he hair flailed about, hiding her face.

"Ah, good," Ganon calmly said. "I was hoping you'd show up, Zelda."

The girl glared at him.

Ganon stood, and slowly stepped to her. "You see, I've been looking for the floor plans of this castle for days. My men have been having trouble finding the bathroom, you see, and there are only so many rooms left that don't stink of their....excrement. They're getting rather discontent marking the same territory every day." Bendu chuckled.

"Monster," Zelda muttered.

"What was that?" Ganon replied. His footsteps echoed in the hall. He looked at her, as if to say something else. He seemed to change his mind, though, and slowly walked back to the hall. He sat down on the golden throne. "Your father has excellent taste in furniture."

Wizard Bendu worked up the nerve to speak. "Shall I ask her about the Triforce, sire?"

"Why bother?" Ganon replied. "I found the answer on my own just this morning." He produced a scroll from his robe and handed it to the wizard.

Bendu unraveled the scroll. In it was written a plan to shatter the Triforce and scatter its pieces throughout the Underworld. "Interesting," the wizard replied. "Do you think she was successful?"

The moblin holding the princess spoke, "Sir, she was carrying nothing when we found her by Turtle Rock."

"There's your answer," Ganon replied. He pointed his trident to the guards. "Take her to the dungeon and find some fashionable chains for her to wear. We're going on an expedition to Death Mountain, and I want the princess looking her finest. We'll set up a command post at Spectacle Rock " The host guarding Zelda dragged her out of the throne room.

"Bendu," he continued. "I want you to stay here and watch over things. Keep a low profile, though, and let no one but my generals see you. I need you alive in the event the ceremony becomes necessary."

"Yes, Master," Bendu agreed. He was the only living man who could conduct the spell that would revive Ganon from his ashes if he were to be killed.

"Now then," Ganon said cheerfully. "Excellent work in capturing the Princess, Bendu. Once we've given her her new bracelets, we'll be ready to leave. Tell the troops to be prepared for some excavation work."

[ April 28, 2004, 08:39 PM: Message edited by: Yami Yoshi ]

[Yami Yoshi]

Link walked northwestward through the rocky-strewn region of Hyrule. The emerald-green colored rocks glistened as the sun rose over the horizon; the dawn of our hero’s adventure.

Eagle, moon, manji, snake, lizard, dragon, demon, lion.
You must seek them out and restore the Triforce. Impa's words echoed in Link's mind.

PTTUI!!!

A tiny stone barely grazed Link’s shoulder and shattered into a rock in front of him. He was being attacked! Instinctively, Link unsheathed his sword and spun around to face his aggressor.

Three orange octopus-like creatures were slowly crawled him—Octoroks. Unlike their ancient ocean-dwelling ancestors, these rock-spitting octopi eventually evolved and adopted themselves to land.

As the stone-shooting cephalopods crept closer, they fired another barrage of rocks towards Link. Link pulled out his Wooden Shield and deflected the stones as they shattered against the shield.

“HIYA!”

Link unsheathed out his Wooden Sword and jumped toward the Octoroks…

The three creatures plopped across the forest road in a primitive manner, shooting at any unfamiliar creatures which crossed their sight.

Link had learned of these creatures, yet he had not encountered them in any of his travels. He had assumed the species to be extinct or a myth beore this moment, and now he wondered ehat they were doing in Hyrule of all places.

Link pulled himself back to reality as a trio of rocks swarmed toward him. Link instinctively raised his shield at a certain angle so that the rock bounced off his shield and towards the middle Octorok which shot it. The rock lodged itself in the Octorok's forehead, purple blood gushing out as it tumbled over backwards, breathing heavy, squeaky dying breaths before fading to dust.

Link then leapt forward towads the other two and slashed his Wooden Sword horizontally, slashing each of the creatures into two halves which then exploded.

That deed done, Link was about to sheath his sword when he thoght better and decided to keep it on hand to prevent any surprise attacks. It was then taht Link noticed another nearby cave with a flimsy wooden sign reading, "General Store" hanging from the top of the entrance. Link decided now was a better time then ever to stock up on gods and casually entered, completely unaware of the spear-wielding giants which followed him...